An artist's rendering of Unity House's new, 36,000-square foot community resource center, The Front Door, now under construction at 2431 Sixth Avenue in Troy.

TROY -- In the bitter cold of winter faced by many homeless and down on their luck people every day this time of year, Unity House celebrated the groundbreaking of its new 36,000-square-foot facility which will serve the community with a food pantry, thrift store, and an employment center in addition to laundry facilities, showers, and a dining space for its homeless clients.

A symbolic door with a welcome wreath was displayed during the groundbreaking, held Thursday at 2431 Sixth Ave., the soon-to-be new home of Unity House's The Front Door community resource center.

"We are confident that The Front Door will contribute to the improvement, safety, and stabilization of the City of Troy and Rensselaer County, while enabling us to more effectively help people with the greatest need access services that will lead to changed lives and a changed community," said Unity House CEO Chris Burke.

The center is being built on the former site of Unity House's old thrift store, Unique Boutique, which was razed. BBL Construction is handling the $4.4 million project which is expected to be complete later this year.

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An estimated 25 percent more people will be served by the larger thrift store, also expected to be called Unique Boutique. In addition, an estimated 25 percent more people will also be served at the expanded food pantry. Officials said the new food pantry will be able to implement a system that allows families to tailor their food supply to their needs to eliminate waste.

The facility will also be the new home for the Bethany @ Unity Soup Kitchen which currently operates at St. Paul's Church in downtown Troy.

"This program serves the neediest members of our community in a space that offers them not just two meals each day but also safety, dignity and personal assistance in accessing the resources that can help lift them from poverty, unemployment, addiction, and family violence," Burke said.

The new space will be about eight blocks from the current Bethany Center site.

Officials noted that the location is walkable from many high-need neighborhoods and is on a bus line. Being across from the ramp onto Alternate Route 7, it's also a "highly visible" location, according to a press release.

The site will house 150 staff now in rented space which is expected to save about $155,000 annually in rent.

"This is an incredible milestone for Unity House and all the volunteers who work tirelessly to make it one of the most important organizations in the area," said Troy Mayor Lou Rosamilia. "Their contributions to residents and their value to our community simply cannot be measured."

Unity House also announced the public phase of its $8 million capital campaign. This is raising funds for The Front Door and for the new $3.7 million domestic violence shelter Sojourner Place that opened in Troy in the spring. About $6.5 million has been raised toward the campaign goal. Major donors included the Howard & Bush Foundation, E. Stewart Jones and Kimberly Sanger Jones, KeyBank, Massry Charitable Foundation, the McCarthy Charities, SEFCU, and the Troy Savings Bank Charitable Foundation.

Elected officials in attendance at the brisk groundbreaking along with Rosamilila included County Executive Kathy Jimino, state Assemblyman John McDonald, Sen. Neil Breslin, and Rep. Paul Tonko. Remarks were also given by Unity Board Chair Frank Sarratori and Unity House Capital Campaign Co-Chair David Ellis.